The Monday, November 23, 2020

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How the bottleneck of minority managerial candidates is opening

Alex Speier

The talent always has been there for a more diverse pool of major league managers. The ability to advance to such positions has not.

Just 6 of 30 big league managerial jobs (20 percent) are occupied by people of color, while non-whites represent roughly 40 percent of the player pool. Yet there is evidence of a significant change to how the coaching pipeline operates, one that suggests a potentially more diverse group moving forward.

For years, coaching staffs have had a measure of diversity but with only limited job mobility for non-white coaches. Many teams would hire Black and Latin ex-players as first base coaches — from 2015-20, 61 percent of first base coaches have been people of color — but then featured steadily diminishing representation at the more prominent (and typically better-paying) coaching positions.

In many instances, first base coaches have remained locked into their positions for years rather than graduating into more prominent roles. There’s been a narrowing funnel, with less diversity among third base coaches, hitting coaches, bench coaches, and ultimately managers.

“There have been a lot of challenges helping individuals to get out of kind of getting pigeon-holed or typecast as the first base when they have skills to do more,” said Tyrone Brooks, MLB’s senior director of the front office and field staff diversity pipeline program.

Frequently, coaches with managerial aspirations would see their paths stall.

“There’s nothing wrong with coaching first the rest of your life. I absolutely loved doing it. But there has to be growth … Coaching first, you make a ton of decisions, but you’re not making managing decisions,” said , who was hired this month as the Tigers’ bench coach after five years as the Dodgers’ first base coach. “In talking to [Dodgers president of operations] , you very rarely see a guy jump from coaching first to managing a major league team. It just doesn’t happen.”

The bottleneck had been caused in part by teams’ preferences to hire individuals with prior managerial experience for the roles of and bench coach — a preference that reinforced historical patterns of discrimination. Yet in the last couple of years, a shift has occurred while teams have deemphasized managerial experience as a prerequisite for governance of in-game strategy.

From 2015-17, there were just five non-white bench coaches in the big leagues. That number increased slightly in 2018 and 2019, before jumping to 12 in 2020.

This offseason, change has continued. With the Tigers’ hiring of Lombard, the Red Sox hiring former Cubs third base coach , and the White Sox tabbing (a former Yankees minor league coordinator), MLB is poised to feature people of color in 14 of the 29 bench coach positions. (The Orioles do not have a bench coach.)

That development changes the pool of future managerial candidates, given that 16 of the 30 big league managerial positions are held by former bench coaches. The job that is the most common springboard to managing features a new cast, opening the bottleneck.

Case in point: spent 18 years as a hitting coach with the Yankees, Angels, Cubs, and Twins. Last year, he was hired as a bench coach by the Marlins. That move positioned him to be considered by the Red Sox as a candidate in their managerial search this offseason, and he was one of three finalists.

Venable and Lombard are seen as potential managerial stars, but their lack of exposure to the in-game managerial decisions had been a limitation in their prior interviews. Now, such concerns won’t be part of their future interviews. The path in front of them is clearer.

Of course, it also works in their favor that the last three titles — the Red Sox in 2018 with , the Nationals in 2019 with , and the Dodgers this year with Dave Roberts — have been won by a diverse group of first-time managers who’d been hired for those roles after preparing as bench coaches.

“What Dave Roberts has done, being with the Dodgers, opening so many eyes, being a minority manager and winning the — the second African-American manager to win a World Series — that’s amazing,” said Lombard, who got his coaching start in the Red Sox minor league system. “Now there are people you can look up to: ‘I want to be the next Dave Roberts.’ ”

And increasingly, it seems likely that such opportunities will exist.

“This emergence of talent that’s coming into this role as bench coaches, I truly feel like this group is now putting itself in a position where they’re essentially rounding for home,” said Brooks. “I’m very optimistic about how talented they are, getting these opportunities, putting themselves very much in a position in the future to become a major league manager.”

FRONT OFFICE TREE Epstein left mark in Boston

Theo Epstein’s decision to step down as Cubs president of baseball operations came just over nine years after he departed the Red Sox at the conclusion of his nine-year as general manager. Beyond his three championships, one of the strongest testaments to Epstein’s organization-building skills is his ongoing mark in the Red Sox front office.

While chief baseball officer joined the Sox from Tampa Bay in October 2019, nearly all of the rest of the baseball operations senior leadership team — for assistant GM Raquel Ferreira, whose tenure began when Dan Duquette was GM — got its start under Epstein. GM Brian O’Halloran, two assistant GMs (Eddie Romero and Zack Scott), and all three vice presidents (Ben Crockett, Gus Quattlebaum, and Mike Rikard) were hired by Epstein.

Despite regime changes — from Epstein to in 2011, Cherington to in 2015, and Dombrowski to Bloom last year — the bones of the front office assembled by Epstein have remained intact.

“It’s a great environment that was started back in 2002 … [Epstein’s time as GM] just stands out as one of the most incredible times of my life because of the people I was doing it with,” said O’Halloran. “[The continuity] shows the kind of job Theo did in bringing people to the organization, giving them opportunities, developing them. It’s awesome. More importantly, we have had awesome people.”

On the field, of course, Epstein’s executive legacy — as he contemplates what he wants to do next — is defined chiefly by the 2004 Red Sox championship and the 2016 Cubs title. Yet it is the least remembered title of 2007 that may represent the greatest trick.

Recent years have offered a lesson in the challenges, and often pain, associated with the transformation of a championship core into another group worthy of a title run. The Red Sox’ last-place finishes in 2014, 2015, and 2020 highlighted the difficulty of moving away from one championship nucleus while trying to build another. The Cubs likewise have seen their proximity to a championship steadily diminish since 2016, and now seem on the cusp of a major, and potentially painful, roster overhaul.

The ability to transform the Red Sox from a veteran, largely imported roster in 2004 to a significantly homegrown group — with , , , , and more — that won in 2007 with only modest transitional pain in the intervening years represents a remarkable achievement.

“I don’t know that I totally recognized the magnitude of that change, to go from having a championship team in ’04, having so much change and having a chance to win again in ’07,” said O’Halloran. “That [2007] team is sort of criminally underrated.”

ETC. Cano’s Hall bid likely done

Robinson Canó's suspension for the 2021 season because of a second positive test for a performance- enhancing substance — in this case, Stanozolol — likely wipes out any shot the eight-time All-Star has at a place in Cooperstown. Canó’s career numbers — .303 average, .352 OBP, .492 slugging mark, 334 home runs, 68.9 Wins Above Replacement — likely would have warranted significant consideration in a vacuum.

But the disgrace of a second positive test almost surely will obliterate his candidacy. There have been some standout second basemen in the first 20 years of the 21st century, but it’s possible that the era will fail to yield a second player who ends up with a plaque in Cooperstown.

Longtime Phillies star Chase Utley, who retired after the 2018 season, likely has the best shot on the strength of his six All-Star berths and 64.4 WAR (as calculated by Baseball-Reference.com), 11th-highest among second basemen in baseball history. Four-time All-Star ended his career with 55.2 WAR, and by virtue of being limited to just nine games after his age-33 season, Dustin Pedroia has a career WAR of 51.6.

Smyly rewarded by Braves

Free agent lefthander Drew Smyly reached a one-year deal with the Braves, in the process highlighting the degree to which teams have become comfortable spending aggressively on what players show in small glimpses.

In 2015, reinvented himself in startling fashion as a Red Sox starter, forging a 1.55 ERA and striking out 36 in 29 over four season-ending starts. The A’s signed him that winter to a one-year, $6 million deal.

Smyly went 4-7 with a 6.24 ERA for the Rangers and Phillies in 2019. But in 26⅓ innings with the Giants this year, his velocity jumped and his became a wipeout weapon, helping him to 42 . That relatively brief glimpse of a reinvented was enough to convince to commit $11 million on the 31-year-old for next year.

Smyly’s one-year deal notwithstanding, most early signs continue to point to a slow-developing free agent market. Cardinals chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that his team’s payroll projections for next year were “fluid” based on uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 public health environment and thus what size of crowds — if any — might be permissible next year.

Meanwhile, several teams already seem intent on slashing payroll, something that will introduce a number of trade candidates to the market and could impede the formation of teams’ interest in free agents. The combination of such forces suggest dynamics comparable to those that preceded the 2018 season, when J.D. Martinez had to wait until the start of to sign.

Extra bases Rusney Castillo is playing for Mexicali in the Mexican Winter League, which resumed play this past week after a shutdown for the first half of November because of COVID-19 outbreaks that swept across multiple teams. Now a free agent after the completion of his seven-year, $72.5 million contract with the Red Sox, Castillo’s performance is being followed by teams interested in figuring out whether the 33- year-old can be an outfield contributor. While it was easy to lampoon the Red Sox’ decision to sign him, Castillo — who last appeared in the big leagues in 2016 — consistently looked like one of the best players on the field throughout his time in A. Castillo consistently drew praise from Sox officials for the fact that he remained determined, even while contractually trapped in the minors, to perform to the best of his abilities. “There’s probably a lot of people who would have taken that [money] to the house. He never did that,” said one team official. “I hope he gets an opportunity. I do think there’s talent there.” … Deivy Grullón, the power-hitting claimed by the Red Sox off waivers from the Phillies, is playing in the Dominican Winter League. Though his defensive skills lag behind his bat, his nickname (El Pulpo — the Octopus) suggests the potential for unique pitch-framing skills … Red Sox outfield prospect Marcus Wilson had been slated to play in Mexico, but he went home once the league shut down because of COVID-19 outbreaks … As the Sox look to upgrade their rotation, they’d love to do so in creative fashion rather than limiting themselves to the free agent market. But with many teams getting crushed by pitching injuries in 2020, few have seemed eager to deal rotation candidates. “The path to trades is tough,” said one evaluator. “No one is giving up starting pitching.” … As turned over his position with the Cubs to longtime partner , he recalled the role Hoyer played in 2010 — when Epstein was in Boston and Hoyer the GM of the Padres — in shaping the future of several franchises, when the Sox were intent on trading for Padres Adrián González. The sides understood that pitcher had to be in the deal, but there was haggling over the second player. “As I recall, Jed wanted Ryan Westmoreland, who would have been, if he hadn’t gone through the tragedy [multiple surgeries to address a cavernous malformation on the brain stem], I think would have been an amazing player,” said Epstein. “When we said no to Westmoreland, he wanted [Anthony] Rizzo. I kept trying to give him Lars Anderson instead. Even Lars Anderson would admit he’s no . So, we were trying to give him Lars instead, but Jed wouldn’t take Lars Anderson. He wanted Anthony Rizzo. He did a great job getting someone who, luckily for us, has gone on to be a cornerstone of the Cubs when we acquired him a couple years after that.” … The Red Sox signed 25-year-old outfielder Michael Gettys to a minor league deal. The 2014 Padres second-round pick has what one evaluator called “huge power,” having blasted 31 homers and hitting .256/.305/.517 in the launching pad that is the Triple A in 2019, and he’s got speed that translates to the bases and all three outfield spots. If he can cut down on his strikeouts (he struck out in 30.5 percent of plate appearances in 2019), he could emerge as a useful reserve … Former Red Sox prospect — dealt to the Padres in 2016 for — is on the road back. The righthander, whom Pedro Martínez compared favorably to himself as a teenager, missed virtually all of the 2017-19 seasons because of two Tommy John surgeries. But he pitched this year in San Diego’s instructional league, where his was 94-98 miles per hour … With their McCoy Stadium lease set to expire at the end of January, the PawSox plan on holding an online sale of stadium merchandise from Dec. 5-10. Details will be available at pawsox.com and on the team’s Facebook page … Happy birthday (Monday) to Luis Tiant (80), whose greatness — like his Fu Manchu — seems only to become more impressive with time and perspective. Jonathan Papelbon is 40 on Monday. His audacity during a standout closing career — he holds the franchise record for saves in both Boston and Philadelphia — has given way to an unexpected retreat from the spotlight in retirement. And Jonny Gomes, also turning 40 (Sunday), in just under two years in Boston managed to forge an indelible place in Sox lore as one of the (bearded) faces of the 2013 title team.

Red Sox name to coaching staff for 2021 season

Julian McWilliams

The Red Sox announced a series of moves Friday that included the official hiring of Will Venable as the team’s new bench coach and the naming of former Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek as their game planning coordinator, a new position within the organization. It’s the first time Varitek, who was listed as the team’s special assistant to the general manager, has a formal role on the Red Sox’ coaching staff. The primary focus of Varitek’s job centers around working with and , but he will also be involved in all team aspects. A key quality for Varitek is his ability to merge analytics and feel for the game and communicating the two effectively to players.

The Red Sox also announced their full coaching staff for the 2021 season, including confirming that Venable has been hired as bench coach, Ramon Vazquez was named quality control coach/interpreter and will be bullpen coach. Vazquez was hired by the Sox in the 2017 offseason. In his first three seasons, he coordinated advanced scouting data.

Five other coaches will remain from the 2020 staff: pitching coach , hitting coach , assistant hitting coach , first base coach , and third base coach .

“Now that our coaching staff is set, we’re excited to get to work and dedicate ourselves to getting the most out of our players,” manager Alex Cora said in a statement released by the team.

“Will is a bright, young mind that will add a lot to what is already a strong collection of coaches. I am also pleased that both Jason and Ramon will step forward and play larger roles for us.

“I am thrilled to have so many great baseball minds on our staff and I look forward to their contributions as we set out to achieve our goals.”

Friday also marked the final day for teams to protect players from the and the Red Sox added pitchers Bryan Mata, , , and to their 40-man roster. Catcher and outfielder Jeisson Rosario were also added to the 40-man roster, while lefthanded starter Kyle Hart was outrighted to Triple A Pawtucket and righthanders Matt Hall and Ryan Weber were designated for assignment.

Mata has a strong 6-foot-3-inch, 240-pound frame with electrifying stuff. He ranks as the Sox’ No. 4 prospect and really turned heads around the organization at the team’s alternate site this past summer.

Groome was the Sox’ first-round pick in 2016, but injuries — namely Tommy John surgery — has slowed his progression. Nevertheless, his stuff alone, including a 12-6 curveball when healthy, and progress at the alternate site makes him still an enticing rotation piece for the Red Sox moving forward.

Hall, Weber, and Hart were a part of the Sox’ pitching staff at points last season. Each struggled.

Hart, 27, made his debut in 2020, and compiled a 15.55 ERA in 11 innings. Weber, meanwhile, compiled a 7.11 ERA as a starter, while Matt Hall surrendered 18 earned runs in just 8⅔ innings. The Sox’ roster is now at 40.

* The

Bryan Mata, Jay Groome among 7 additions to Red Sox’ 40-man roster

Steve Hewitt

The Red Sox added seven players — Bryan Mata, Jay Groome, Connor Seabold, Connor Wong, Hudson Potts, Jeisson Rosario and Eduard Bazardo — to their 40-man roster on Friday, effectively protecting them from being taken by another team in next month’s Rule 5 draft.

None of the seven additions were particularly surprising. Six of them — Mata, Groome, Seabold, Wong, Potts and Rosario — were ranked inside the top 30 of the Red Sox’ prospect rankings on MLB.com, while Bazardo reportedly gained some buzz with a strong performance at the Red Sox’ fall instructional camp.

Kyle Hart, a year after being added to the 40-man roster, was outrighted to Triple-A Pawtucket. Matt Hall and Ryan Weber, who entered the 2020 season as the Red Sox’ No. 3 starter, were designated for assignment. Those cuts allowed the Red Sox to make their seven additions, putting their 40-man roster at a full 40.

Mata, the No. 4-ranked prospect in the Red Sox’ system, is one of the top headliners. The 21-year-old right-hander has emerged as one of the organization’s best starting pitching prospects. Though he hasn’t pitched above -A yet, Mata had a strong summer at the Red Sox’ alternate training site in Pawtucket, where he opened some eyes.

“For me, probably the most exciting guy we have in the organization, and he’s one of the most exciting guys in baseball, period,” Triple-A Pawtucket pitching coach Paul Abbott said in September. “Twenty-one years old, touches 99, sits about 97, and everything he throws is top shelf.

“Obviously, he’s a young guy, there’s some emotions that get involved and they try to do too much, they’re more throwers than pitchers. But he’s pretty advanced, even with that being said.”

The 22-year-old Groome, taken by the Red Sox in the first round of the 2016 draft, has pitched just 66 innings in the minors largely due to Tommy John surgery that kept him out of the 2018 season and most of 2019. The left-hander is healthy now, having pitched at the Red Sox’ alternate site this summer and then in fall instructional camp, but he hasn’t pitched higher than Single-A.

Wong, the versatile catcher who was included in the trade earlier this year, was also among the additions to the 40-man. Seabold was acquired in the trade that sent and to the Phillies this summer. The right-hander projects as a back-end starter.

Potts, a , and Rosario, an outfielder, were acquired in the trade that sent to the Padres. Bazardo was Rule 5 eligible last season, but was not picked up by another team. The Red Sox swiftly protected him this year as the right-handed reliever reportedly improved significantly during fall camp.

Here is the Red Sox’ 40-man roster after Friday’s moves:

PITCHERS (21): Yoan Aybar, , Eduard Bazardo, , Colten Brewer, Austin Brice, , Jay Groome, Darwinzon Hernandez, , Bryan Mata, Chris Mazza, , Eduardo Rodriguez, , Connor Seabold, Jeffrey Springs, Robert Stock, , Phillips Valdez,

CATCHERS (4): Deivy Grullón, , Christian Vázquez, Connor Wong

INFIELDERS (9): Jonathan Araúz, , , C.J. Chatham, , , , Dustin Pedroia, Hudson Potts

OUTFIELDERS (6): , J.D. Martinez, Yairo Muñoz, Jeisson Rosario, , Marcus Wilson

Red Sox finalize 2021 coaching staff: Will Venable officially new bench coach, Jason Varitek given new title

Steve Hewitt

The Red Sox officially named Will Venable their new bench coach and gave Jason Varitek a new title as they finalized their 2021 coaching staff on Friday.

Varitek, who has been with the Red Sox since his playing career began in 1997, was made the team’s “game planning coordinator,” a newly created position on the coaching staff. The longtime catcher, who retired after the 2011 season, has served as a Red Sox special assistant/catching coach since 2012.

Kevin Walker was named the Red Sox’ new bullpen coach, which was the last remaining vacancy on the coaching staff after the team didn’t renew ’s contract. Walker was the Red Sox’ assistant pitching coach in 2020, his first season on a major-league coaching staff, after spending the previous 11 seasons as a pitching coach within the organization.

Ramón Vázquez, who has spent the last three seasons as a coach, was made the team’s quality control coach and interpreter. Dave Bush (pitching coach), Tim Hyers (hitting coach), Peter Fatse (assistant hitting coach), Tom Goodwin (first-base coach), and Carlos Febles (third-base coach) will resume their roles to round out manager Alex Cora’s coaching staff.

“Now that our coaching staff is set, we’re excited to get to work and dedicate ourselves to getting the most out of our players,” Cora said in a statement. “Will is a bright, young mind that will add a lot to what is already a strong collection of coaches. I am also pleased that both Jason and Ramón will step forward and play larger roles for us. I am thrilled to have so many great baseball minds on our staff and I look forward to their contributions as we set out to achieve our goals.”

The 38-year-old Venable has spent the last three seasons on the Cubs’ coaching staff, two as a first-base coach and one as a third-base coach. A former player who spent 12 seasons in the majors, Venable reportedly interviewed for the Red Sox’ managerial job last month and is widely considered a future manager in the game.

* The Providence Journal

Red Sox officially announce coaching staff

Bill Koch

BOSTON — Two notable changes at the top highlight next season’s Red Sox coaching staff, which was formally announced in a Friday afternoon release.

Alex Cora returns as the manager and Will Venable was officially named his bench coach. Venable most recently served as third-base coach with the Cubs and was one of nine men to reportedly interview for Boston’s managerial job after the club declined to exercise ’s one-year team option.

“Now that our coaching staff is set, we’re excited to get to work and dedicate ourselves to getting the most out of our players,” Cora said in a statement. “Will is a bright young mind that will add a lot to what is already a strong collection of coaches.”

The 38-year-old Venable is a baseball lifer and former outfielder whose father, Max, was an outfielder and designated hitter in the big leagues from 1979-91. Will Venable transitioned from the field to the front office in 2017 as special assistant to former Chicago president of baseball operations Theo Epstein. Venable moved to the dugout as first-base coach in 2018 before shifting across the diamond for 2020.

Kevin Walker, Jason Varitek and Ramon Vazquez all remain on staff in different roles. Walker goes from assistant pitching coach to bullpen coach, replacing Craig Bjornson. Varitek moves from special assistant/catching coach to game planning coordinator while Vazquez jumps from major-league coach to quality control coach/interpreter.

“I am also pleased that both Jason and Ramon will step forward and play larger roles for us,” Cora said. “I am thrilled to have so many great baseball minds on our staff and I look forward to their contributions as we set out to achieve our goals.”

Walker has been with the organization since 2009 and climbed the ladder as pitching coach at both Class-A affiliates, Double-A Portland and Triple-A Pawtucket. Varitek has gradually become more involved in day- to-day operations after initially taking a step back at the end of his playing career. The former Red Sox captain won a pair of World Series championships, in 2004 and 2007, as the club’s primary catcher.

Dave Bush (pitching coach), Tim Hyers (hitting coach), Peter Fatse (assistant hitting coach), Tom Goodwin (first-base coach) and Carlos Febles (third-base coach) all return in their 2020 roles. Hyers, Goodwin and Febles are holdovers from Cora’s first staff when he was named Red Sox manager prior to the 2018 season.

Speculation about Cora’s potential return to Boston increased when the club announced the renewal of several contracts among the coaching staff. His season-long suspension for electronic sign-stealing with the Astros in 2017 expired at the close of the World Series. The Red Sox reportedly selected Cora to reclaim his old job ahead of Phillies player information director Sam Fuld, Yankees bench coach Carlos Mendoza, Pirates bench coach and Marlins bench coach/offensive coordinator James Rowson.

* MassLive.com

Bryan Mata, Jay Groome, Hudson Potts among seven Boston Red Sox prospects added to 40-man roster

Christopher Smith

The Red Sox have added seven prospects to their 40-man roster to protect them being selected in December’s Rule 5 Draft.

Boston protected top pitching prospect Bryan Mata as well as 2016 first-round pick Jay Groome.

Catcher Connor Wong, Jeisson Rosario, third baseman Hudson Potts, starting pitcher Connor Seabold and reliever Eduard Bazardo also were added to the 40-man roster.

The Red Sox outrighted lefty Kyle Hart. They have designated both Ryan Weber and Matt Hall for assignment.

Boston acquired Seabold with Nick Pivetta from the Phillies for Brandon Workman and Heath Hembree on Aug. 21.

The Red Sox acquired Potts and Rosario from San Diego for Mitch Moreland on Aug. 30.

Wong came to the Red Sox with Alex Verdugo and Jeter Downs for Mookie Betts and on Feb. 10.

Bryan Mata: The 21-year-old righty posted a 3.43 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and .237 batting average against in 21 starts combined between High-A Salem and Double-A Portland in 2019. He dominated at Sale and then struggled at Portland, but he was just 20 years old.

He has an upper-90s fastball and multiple plus-secondary pitches, but he still needs to improve his command and he knows it (4.0 walks per nine innings at Double A).

“He’s as exciting, I think, as anybody in baseball,” Triple-A pitching coach Paul Abbott said this past summer about Mata who throws a two-seam fastball. “Top-shelf fastball, top-shelf . Curveball is above average. The , too

Jay Groome: The Red Sox drafted the lefty in the first round (12th overall) in 2016. But The 22-year-old has pitched just 9 ⅔ innings the past two seasons after Tommy John surgery in May 2018. He knows he has a lot to prove.

The Red Sox staff at the alternate training site spoke highly of his progress this summer. But SoxProspects.com’s Ian Cundall wrote that Groome didn’t impress at fall instructional camp.

Cundall wrote, “Groome’s velocity was down considerably, with the fastball ranging from 88-94 mph and mostly sitting around 90-91 mph. In the past, Groome has sat 92-94 mph and would touch 96 mph. With this drop in velocity, his fastball grades to average than plus. Groome’s curveball also has yet to return to where it was pre-injury.”

Hudson Potts: The 6-3, 218-pounder — who San Diego drafted 24th overall in 2016 — also played some second base in addition to third at the alternate training site this summer.

The 22-year-old has legit power but he needs to cut down on his swing-and-miss. He had a 28.6% rate at Double A in 2019.

Jeisson Rosario: The 20-year-old center fielder has batted .264 with a .376 on-base percentage, .340 , .716 OPS, seven homers, 41 doubles, nine triples, 93 RBIs and 37 steals in 289 minor league games. He has not yet played above High A.

Cundall of SoxProspects.com reported that Rosario struggled at fall instructs after a nice start. Cundall wrote, “Rosario’s approach was ok—he worked counts but did not seem to be seeing the ball that well and showed fringy contact ability and minimal raw power.”

Connor Seabold: The 24-year-old’s best pitch is his changeup. He posted a 2.25 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and .240 batting average against in seven starts at Double-A Reading in 2019. He then pitched in the for Scottsdale where he had a 1.06 ERA (two earned runs, 17 ) with 22 strikeouts and three walks.

The righty is expected to begin 2021 in Triple-A Worcester’s starting rotation.

Connor Wong: The 24-year-old, who also can play second base and third base, threw out 52% of base stealers (16-for-31) at Double-A Tulsa in 2019.

He 24 homers, 24 doubles, seven triples and posted a .281/.336/.541/.878 line in 111 minor league games (70 High-A games and 41 Double-A games) during 2019. He had a .349/.393/.604/.997 line in 163 plate appearances at Double A.

He needs to cut down on his strikeout rate. He had a 30.8% strikeout percentage in ‘19.

Eduard Bazardo: The 25-year-old righty from Venezuela was not a member of Red Sox’s 60-man player pool in 2020. But he impressed enough at fall instructs to be added to the 40-man roster.

SoxProspects.com Ian Cundall tweeted Nov. 13, “A name to watch at the 40-man roster deadline is RHP Eduard Bazardo. Bazardo’s velocity was 93-97, up from 91-95 in 2019. He also has a plus CB with an elite spin rate of ~3000 rpm that he can command.”

The 25-year-old Venezuela native recorded a 2.21 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, .206 batting average against and 10.8 strikeouts per nine innings in 73 ⅓ innings for High-A Salem and Double-A Portland in 2019.

Jay Groome’s road to Boston Red Sox 40-man roster took several detours; ‘I’ve changed a lot from the kid I used to be’

Christopher Smith

Jay Groome’s journey from the 12th-overall pick in the 2016 MLB Draft to the Boston Red Sox’s 40-man roster wasn’t an easy one. It took a couple of injury detours.

Boston announced Friday it added Groome and six other prospects — Bryan Mata, Connor Wong, Jeisson Rosario, Hudson Potts, Connor Seabold and Eduard Bazardo — to its 40-man roster. All seven players needed to be protected from December’s Rule 5 Draft.

“I’m just happy first off that I’m healthy and even put myself in this position,” Groome said during a phone interview Friday evening. “I’ve only pitched 8 or 9 innings (since the beginning of 2018), however many it was. but those are the cards that were dealt. I’m just thankful. I’m just happy that they still feel that way about me and are willing to give me an opportunity on the 40-man roster and to just go into big league camp and showcase what I can do. I just know that if I stay healthy, I know I can compete.”

Groome, who turned 22 in August, featured a plus-changeup and mid-90s fastball and drew comparisons to future Hall of Famer when the Red Sox drafted him. But nothing has come easy for him since.

He left his first start of 2017 for Low-A Greenville with a lat injury. He gave up nine earned runs in 1 ⅓ innings that game. He was sidelined for more than two months, then struggled at times after returning from the IL. He posted a 6.70 ERA in 11 starts for Greenville.

A forearm strain ended his 2017 season in late August.

He enjoyed a productive offseason. Red Sox ace Chris Sale invited Groome to train with him. The two worked out together four times a week. They lifted weights and even did pilates.

“He’s got everything — all the tools you could possibly ask for. I mean, that guy’s an animal,” Sale said about Groome in January 2018.

Groome looked poised for a breakout season in 2018. He showed swing-and-miss stuff in a minor league spring training game vs. the Twins on March 24, 2018 (see video right below).

But he felt stiffness in his arm after the game. He underwent Tommy John surgery May 15, 2018. He kept a positive attitude through it all and being added to the 40-man roster marked a significant milestone in his career.

“I’ve changed a lot from the kid that I used to be,” Groome said. “I’m not really the same pitcher. My velocity is still there. I’m sitting 92-94. But my fastball is playing well right now because coming back from Tommy John, it really helped me develop the changeup. So now that I have that changeup just to flash, it makes my fastball better. So now I don’t have to use my curveball as much. And then I introduced a slider. And now I have four pitches. So it makes me a little bit more confident because now I don’t have to rely on my fastball/curveball.”

He said hitters knew what he wanted to throw when he shook off the catcher. They were ready for the curveball — but not anymore.

“Now I have my fastball, changeup, slider and my curveball to go to whenever,” he said. “And now if I can just really polish off this changeup and this slider — the slider is coming a lot quicker than the changeup (did).”

The Red Sox added Groome to their 60-player pool in mid-July and he reported to the alternate training site in Pawtucket. That’s when he began throwing a slider.

“It came a lot quicker than the changeup,” Groome said. “The changeup is a pitch you really need feel for. And coming out of high school, I never really threw it. And when I came into , it wasn’t good at all. So when I threw it, I just didn’t have results with it. I never trusted it. But now that I throw it with conviction, it’s just a quality pitch I feel like. I got some good results with it at the alternate site. And I carried that right into instructs and I did the same thing.”

He said he tinkered around with a number of different changeup grips, then things clicked at the alternate training site in Pawtucket this summer when he spoke with Triple-A pitching coach Paul Abbott.

“I can ask my buddy for his changeup grip if he has a nasty one. But I can do the same grip and it’s not going to do nearly the same thing,” Groome said. “I was talking to Paul Abbott in Triple A and he just said, ‘You really have to focus in on just really making your pitch, your pitch.’ So I guess it just clicked. I was like, ‘He’s right.’ Looking at all the analytics-side of it, I knew what I needed to get the movement and make it a quality pitch. And we did that. We worked hard on it and we accomplished that.”

Groome remained on a five-day routine during the coronavirus quarantine before reporting to the alternate site.

He has pitched just 9 ⅔ innings of minor league ball since start of 2018, after undergoing Tommy John surgery that May.

“I knew going into this year, it was a big year for me clearly,” Groome said.

He pitched valuable innings in simulated games at Pawtucket. He impressed teammates with his curveball. Abbott said in August that Groome has had more confidence in his since the surgery and his changeup had improved a lot.

“I think I pitched well enough there to make it happen,” Groome said about being added to the 40-man roster.

Groome lives in Fort Myers, Fla., but he’s back at home in New Jersey visiting family for the holidays. He got engaged to his girlfriend Amanda back in July.

He’ll continue with his same workouts this offseason.

“I usually just stretch at night and I’ve been doing that ever since my surgery and it’s been helping out because I’m healthy. I’m really focused on just staying strong and just being strong as a pitcher. Not trying to have just this perfect body. I want to have the perfect body for my arm and what I need to do to stay healthy and be that horse.”

Baseball America recently wrote, “Groome possesses mid-rotation potential” but he said he’ll do anything.

“Whatever I can do to help win a World Series,” Groome said. “That’s what they stress. They want championships. Just like Darwinzon (Hernandez). I played with Darwinzon ... until I had Tommy John. He was a starter with me in Greenville. And now he’s one of the top relievers (in Boston).”

Boston Red Sox targeting starting pitching; who are the best fits on the free agent market?

Chris Cotillo

Quietly, the Red Sox’ search for quality starting pitching has gotten more difficult in recent weeks.

While the Sox were busy completing a managerial search that ended with Alex Cora being welcomed back to town, a quartet of solid starters came off the open market. Two of the top three free-agent arms -- and -- accepted qualifying offers from the Giants and Mets, respectively, and two veteran lefties (Robbie Ray, who re-signed with the Blue Jays and Drew Smyly, who signed with the Braves) came off the board.

There are still some promising arms available, but not as many as there were at the outset of the winter. Using MLBTradeRumors’ free-agent rankings, four of the top 16 available pitchers (and two of the top three) are no longer available.

While Stroman was an unlikely fit for the Red Sox, Gausman seemed like a good one as a soon-to-be 30- year old with East experience who seemed to unlock something in 2020. Ray and Smyly (who was with Chaim Bloom’s Rays from 2014 to 2017) both got one-year deals and would have fit in nicely as stopgap options for the Sox in 2021.

Despite Bloom not ruling the Red Sox out on players with qualifying offers attached, it’s very unlikely the team makes any moves for those guys at the high end of the free-agent market. That all but eliminates Boston on , the top overall free agent.

So where does that leave them? Considering a bunch of pitchers in the middle tier of the free-agent market as well as exploring a stagnant trade market. As Bloom said this week on the radio, they’re casting a wide net.

“We definitely need to add pitching,” Bloom said on WEEI’s “Ordway, Merloni and Fauria.” That’s not news. We all saw it this past year. We have room to accommodate quality pitching whether it’s starters or relievers or swingmen or anything in between. We have room to accommodate those guys. We need to go out and find some more pitching. That’s obviously not a secret. I think some of that is going to be dictated by what the opportunities are in the market, whether it’s free agents or trades.”

Among the pitchers still left on the free-agent market, a few stand out. Righty Jake Odorizzi, who was limited to four starts in 2020, came up with the Rays and is only 30. Former Angels and Padres righty has fans among the Sox’ decision makers. Two-time award winner Corey Kluber makes his offseason home in Massachusetts and could look to make that a full-time arrangement. Veteran righty has obvious connections to both Cora and Bloom and the Connecticut native might have interest in ending his career close to where he grew up. Chris Archer is another high-ceiling former Ray who has seen his value drop rapidly in recent years; Bloom knows him from Tampa Bay and Cora will be able to get a recent scouting report from his brother, Joey, who is a coach for the Pirates.

Beyond those guys, lefties Jose Quintana and Mike Minor and righties Anthony DeSclafini and Taijuan Walker make some sense. It’s unlikely, but the Red Sox could also pursue reunions with Jon Lester or . Some former Yankees (righty Masahiro Tanaka and lefties James Paxton and J.A. Happ are also readily available). A reunion with Martin Perez hasn’t been completely ruled out, but he’s drawing strong interest elsewhere and the Red Sox are not involved at this point, according to a major-league source.

It would be an all-time shock if the Red Sox don’t add at least a couple major-league starters to their stable before spring training, and if they do, they’ll actually have a pretty deep rotation group. Eduardo Rodriguez (assuming there are no hiccups in his return from myocarditis) and Nathan Eovaldi will anchor a group that could include Tanner Houck, Nick Pivetta and eventually, Chris Sale.

“It’s exciting now to be looking at some new faces that joined this team in the past year, guys like (Tanner) Houck and (Nick Pivetta) and see how they can contribute, but we also don’t want to be in a position where we’re overly reliant on them,” Bloom said this week. “We know, at some point next season, we should expect Chris Sale back and that’s going to be a huge lift, but we don’t want to be so reliant on that that we don’t have enough quality pitching to get us to that point.”

***

Cuts due for Red Sox by 6 p.m.

As our Chris Smith wrote earlier in the week, the Red Sox have some roster shuffling to take care of by 6 p.m. Friday afternoon. By that deadline, the club will have to add some top prospects to its 40-man roster in order to protect them from being selected in next month’s Rule 5 draft.

Six prospects -- pitchers Jay Groome, Bryan Mata and Connor Seabold, catcher Connor Wong, infielder Hudson Potts and outfielder Jeisson Rosario -- are locks to be protected and a seventh (pitcher Eduard Bazardo) could also be added. The Sox currently have 36 players on their 40-man roster, so two or three players need to be removed from the 40-man.

Even after cutting eight guys (and losing two more to free agency) since the end of the season, the Red Sox have plenty of fungible pieces on their roster. Among those potentially on the chopping block, pitchers Yoan Aybar, Matt Hall, Kyle Hart and Robert Stock stand out while Marcus Walden, Jeffrey Springs and Ryan Weber may be in jeopardy as well. Catcher Deivy Grullon, infielder C.J. Chatham and outfielder Marcus Wilson could be let go as well.

My guess: The Sox protect Bazardo, meaning they’ll need three spots. I’d project Hall, Stock and Aybar to get cut at that point.

***

10 observations from the last week in baseball

1. Crazy, but Robinson Cano’s PED suspension is actually a major win for the Mets. They’ll save $24 million because of it and can spend that money on free agents this winter.

2. Seems like a D.J. LeMahieu-Yankees reunion is likely if not inevitable. He’s got a qualifying offer attached, so don’t expect the Red Sox to get too involved.

3. As MassLive reported late last week, the could move to High-A as part of baseball’s affiliate restructuring. That would be a boon for New England baseball fans.

4. There’s some talk of Matt Barnes as a non-tender candidate, but I don’t see it. Chaim Bloom is known to be a huge fan of his. Ryan Weber, on the other hand, could be non-tendered, but he has stuck on the roster this long.

5. Some talented starters could hit free agency as non-tenders, too. Yonny Chirinos, Jon Gray, Steven Matz, Carlos Rodon and Jose Urena are among the top names there.

6. No Boston return is imminent for Theo Epstein, but would it really be a shock if he joined the Red Sox’ ownership group (or in a different capacity) at some point? He obviously still has close ties in these parts.

7. Will Venable is not a shocking choice for Alex Cora’s bench coach, but I thought he’d go with Ramon Vazquez or Carlos Febles. Largely, his staff will be familiar to him as there are a lot of holdovers from his first stint in town.

8. This tweet from the Padres about is the ultimate “Good news, bad news” situation.

9. Slugger Michael Gettys is the latest intriguing minor-league signing for the Red Sox. Hey, you never know.

10. It’ll be a surprise if doesn’t make it into the Hall of Fame in 2021. The ballot has opened up significantly.

Boston Red Sox make Jason Varitek full-time coach for first time; announce 2021 staff with Will Venable as bench coach, Kevin Walker as bullpen coach

Chris Cotillo

The Red Sox announced their 2021 coaching staff on Friday afternoon, giving former captain Jason Varitek a full-time coaching role for the first time and officially hiring Will Venable as the club’s bench coach.

Varitek is now the team’s game planning coordinator, which is a new position in the organization. He is now a full-time member of the coaching staff and will make every trip with the team, which has not been the case in previous years. Since 2012, when Varitek was hired as a special assistant and catching coach, he has served a hybrid role between the front office and coaching staff but has taken on added on-field responsibilities in recent years.

Venable, a former big-league outfielder who was the Cubs third base coach in 2020, interviewed for Boston’s managerial opening last month before the club brought back manager Alex Cora. Cora’s bench coach for his first stint as manager was Ron Roenicke, who took over as manager in 2020 and was let go at the end of the season.

The Red Sox also changed the title of two returning coaches. Kevin Walker, who was previously the assistant pitching coach, is now the bullpen coach, replacing Craig Bjornson. Ramon Vazquez, who was previously listed as a major-league coach, is now the team’s quality control coach and interpreter.

Five coaches -- pitching coach Dave Bush, hitting coach Tim Hyers, assistant hitting coach Peter Fatse, first base coach Tom Goodwin and third base coach Carlos Febles -- returned to their roles from 2020. Previously, the Red Sox announced that all of them were invited back but that Bjornson and bench coach had been let go.

“Now that our coaching staff is set, we’re excited to get to work and dedicate ourselves to getting the most out of our players,” Cora said in a statement. “Will is a bright, young mind that will add a lot to what is already a strong collection of coaches. I am also pleased that both Jason and Ramón will step forward and play larger roles for us. I am thrilled to have so many great baseball minds on our staff and I look forward to their contributions as we set out to achieve our goals.”

Walker, 44, was hired last winter as the assistant pitching coach after working for 11 years as a pitching coach in the minor leagues. Vazquez, also 44, joined the Sox back in 2018 when Cora was hired and was in his previous role for three seasons.

Red Sox coaching staff:

Alex Cora - Manager

Will Venable - Bench coach

Tim Hyers - Hitting coach

Peter Fatse- Assistant hitting coach

Dave Bush - Pitching coach

Tom Goodwin - First base coach

Carlos Febles - Third base coach

Kevin Walker - Bullpen coach

Ramon Vazquez - Quality control coach/Interpreter

Jason Varitek - Game planning coordinator

Boston Red Sox 40-man roster turnover will continue after 13 cuts already; next date to watch is non-tender deadline Dec. 2

Christopher Smith

The Boston Red Sox’s 40-man roster is at 40 players exact after they protected seven Rule 5 Draft eligible prospects Friday.

Bryan Mata, Jay Groome, Connor Wong, Jeisson Rosario, Hudson Potts, Connor Seabold and Eduard Bazardo were added to the roster.

Meanwhile, Boston outrighted left-handed pitcher Kyle Hart to Triple A and designated pitchers Matt Hall and Ryan Weber for assignment.

The roster turnover has been significant already this offseason and will continue.

The Red Sox already have outrighted nine players — Hart, Zack Godley, José Peraza, César Puello, Dylan Covey, Tzu-Wei Lin, Robinson Leyer, Mike Kickham and Andrew Triggs. Everyone but Hart became a free agent.

The Mariners also claimed Domingo Tapia off waivers from Boston. The Sox declined Martin Perez’s $6.85 million option for 2021, making him a free agent Jackie Bradley Jr. elected free agency.

The Red Sox, moving forward, must open spots every time they add a free agent. Boston is expected to be active this offseason. It must add starting pitching, relief help and an outfielder.

The non-tender deadline (Dec. 2) is the next important date to watch. Arbitration-eligible players Kevin Plawecki, Austin Brice and Ryan Brasier are non-tender candidates. As our Chris Cotillo wrote Friday, “There’s some talk of Matt Barnes as a non-tender candidate, but I don’t see it. Chaim Bloom is known to be a huge fan of his.”

Plawecki had a strong season as the backup catcher in 2020. Ryan Brasier showed elite stuff and held opponents to a .192 batting average in his final 19 innings (18 outings). Both likely will be tendered contracts.

Robert Stock, Yoan Aybar, Marcus Wilson and C.J. Chatham seem the most susceptible to being cut when roster spots are needed this offseason, although that’s pure speculation.

The Red Sox also still could come to an agreement with Dustin Pedroia to end his career because he is unlikely to play in 2021, the final year of his contract. Three knee surgeries have limited Pedroia to nine games the past three years. He last appeared in a major league game April 17, 2019.

Red Sox 2021 roster/payroll breakdown (estimated $168.475M)

Guaranteed contracts (6): Chris Sale ($25.60 million), J.D. Martinez ($19.375 million), Xander Bogaerts ($20 million), Nathan Eovaldi ($16.88 million); Dustin Pedroia ($13.3 million), Christian Vazquez ($4.52 million). Total: $115.675 million

*David Price (Red Sox pay $16 million of his $31 million AAV),

Arbitration contracts (7): Eduardo Rodriguez ($8.3 million estimated), Andrew Benintendi ($5 million), Matt Barnes ($5.7 million estimated), Kevin Plawecki ($2.0 million estimated), Rafael Devers ($6.3 million estimated), Austin Brice ($900,000 estimated), Ryan Brasier ($1.6 million estimated). Total: $29.8 million estimated

* Projections per MLBTradeRumors.com, which used three different formulas. MassLive.com used MLBTradeRumors.com’s highest estimate for each player.

Pre-arbitration players (27): Yoan Aybar, Eduard Bazardo, Colten Brewer, Jay Groome, Darwinzon Hernandez, Tanner Houck, Bryan Mata, Chris Mazza, Yairo Muñoz, Nick Pivetta, Connor Seabold, Jeffrey Springs, Robert Stock, Josh Taylor, Phillips Valdez, Marcus Walden, Deivy Grullón, Jonathan Arauz, Christian Arroyo, C.J. Chatham, Michael Chavis, Bobby Dalbec, Hudson Potts, Jeisson Rosario, Alex Verdugo, Marcus Wilson, Connor Wong. Approximate Total: $8 million.

Other costs: Add another approximately $15 million for medical costs, health benefits, spring training allowances, moving and traveling expenses, etc. That’s all included in the CBT. Approximate Total: $15 million.

Boston Red Sox coach Jason Varitek wants to manage in majors someday: ‘That would definitely be a hope’ (report)

Chris Cotillo

Former Red Sox captain Jason Varitek still hopes to manage in the majors one day, he recently told Jen McCaffrey of . On Friday, Varitek was promoted to a full-time coaching role for the first time, being named Boston’s “game planning coordinator.”

Varitek has long been rumored as a potential future manager in the big leagues. Though nothing has come to fruition yet, becoming a skipper is still one of his goals.

“That definitely would be a hope and always have been working toward,” Varitek told McCaffrey. “But when you’re not on a full-time basis, you don’t want to sit there and make huge statements or speak of players and stuff, so that would be a great thing to work toward. I’m going to be working hard for Alex and that staff and those players and trying to win right now and trying to do the best I can to do that. There’s no timetable, but this is another big step in being able to be around every day.”

Varitek, now 48, retired after the 2011 season and has been working for the Red Sox in a front office/coaching capacity since Sept. 2012. Originally, he serves a hybrid role as a front office consultant and catching coach, but in recent years he has taken on more on-field responsibilities, making the transition to full-time coaching a sensible one.

Varitek has long been rumored as a potential future manager of the Red Sox, but the club has not seemed to have much interest in that role for him. Since Oct. 2017, the Sox have conducted three managerial searches (hiring Alex Cora twice and Ron Roenicke once) and hired three bench coaches (Roenicke, Jerry Narron and Will Venable) without ever interviewing Varitek for either position. This fall, the club spoke to at least nine candidates about its managerial opening but did not consider Varitek before re-hiring Cora.

Varitek has been considered for at least one managerial opening in the past, as the Mariners spoke to him back in Oct. 2015 before before hiring . The Padres, according to reports, at least discussed the possibility of Varitek as their manager in 2014 and 2015 but have hired two new skippers ( in Oct. 2015 and in Oct. 2019) without interviewing the former Sox catcher.

In previous years, Varitek has said that he would wait until his children got older before fully pursuing a managerial gig. He has four daughters.

* RedSox.com

Bench coach Venable completes Boston staff

Ian Browne

BOSTON -- Red Sox manager Alex Cora officially set his 2021 coaching staff on Friday, hiring Will Venable as his new bench coach among other moves.

Former Red Sox captain Jason Varitek was named game planning coordinator, was named quality control coach/interpreter and Kevin Walker was named bullpen coach. Dave Bush (pitching coach), Tim Hyers (hitting coach), Peter Fatse (assistant hitting coach), Tom Goodwin (first-base coach) and Carlos Febles (third-base coach) will resume their roles on the Major League coaching staff.

Venable was the third-base coach for the Cubs in 2020, after serving as the team's first-base coach in 2018 and '19. He was one of nine candidates who interviewed for the Red Sox’s managerial opening, but the club instead opted to rehire Cora.

In Cora’s first stint as Boston’s manager from 2018-19, his bench coach was Ron Roenicke, who served as the team's manager in '20.

Back then, it was vital for Cora -- a rookie skipper -- to have someone next to him on the bench with prior managing experience. That is no longer a necessity with Cora establishing a track record that includes winning a World Series championship in 2018.

The 38-year-old Venable gives the Red Sox a young voice who was a Major League outfielder as recently as 2016. He is known for his strong communication skills with players, something that is always vital in the role of bench coach.

Will’s father, Max -- also an outfielder -- played in the Majors from 1979-91.

Sox add prospects Mata, Groome to 40-man

Joe Trezza

To protect them from the Rule 5 Draft, the Red Sox added seven prospects to their 40-man roster on Friday, selecting the contracts of right-hander Bryan Mata (the club's No. 4 prospect per MLB Pipeline), left- hander Jay Groome (No. 7), outfielder Jeisson Rosario (No. 16), catcher Connor Wong (No. 19), third baseman Hudson Potts (No. 20), righty Connor Seabold (No. 23) and righty Eduard Bazardo.

The Red Sox protected six of their Top 30 prospects, four of whom were acquired by chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom via trade within the past year. Boston also designated lefty Matt Hall and righty Ryan Weber for assignment and outrighted left-hander Kyle Hart to Triple-A Pawtucket in corresponding moves, further reshaping its roster following a last-place finish in the in 2020.

Previously, the Red Sox removed Domingo Tapia, Robinson Leyer, Zack Godley, Andrew Triggs, Mike Kickham, Dylan Covey, César Puello, Tzu-Wei Lin and José Peraza from the 40-man roster in a flurry of transactions last month.

The deadline for teams to set their 40-man rosters, thus shielding prospects from Rule 5 selection, was 6 p.m. ET on Friday. The Rule 5 Draft is scheduled for Dec. 10.

Players first signed at age 18 or younger must be added to a team's 40-man roster within five seasons or they become eligible through the Rule 5 process; players signed at age 19 or older have to be protected within four seasons. Clubs pay $100,000 to select a player in the Major League phase of the Rule 5 Draft. If that player doesn't stay on the 26-man MLB roster for the full season, he must be offered back to his former team for $50,000.

This year, that means an international or high school Draft pick signed in 2016 -- assuming he was 18 or younger as of June 5 of that year -- must be protected, A college player taken in the '17 Draft is in the same position.

Let’s look at the seven prospects the Red Sox protected on Friday, and what those decisions mean for their outlook next season and beyond:

RHP Bryan Mata MLB Pipeline club ranking: No. 4 2021 Age: 21 MLB ETA: 2021

Listed at 6-foot-3 and generously at 240 pounds, Mata is a hard-throwing sinkerballer and the Red Sox’s top pitching prospect per MLB Pipeline. His two-seam fastball sits in the mid-90s and has touched triple- digits, and he also features a wipeout slider and improving changeup. Walks have been an issue, but the upside is real. Mata has the ceiling of a mid-rotation starter or closer and could be part of the big league mix by next season.

LHP Jay Groome MLB Pipeline club ranking: No. 7 2021 Opening Day Age: 22 MLB ETA: 2022

Injuries have limited Groome to 66 low-level innings since the Red Sox took him No. 12 overall in the 2016 Draft, signing the left-hander for a franchise-record $3.65 million. Protecting him now ensures Boston doesn't lose out on that investment and prevents another team from stashing Groome in a big league bullpen for a full season. It wouldn’t have been unreasonable for a club to toy with the idea: the 6-foot-6 southpaw features a mid-90s heater, a plus curveball and considerable prospect cache, despite his injury history.

OF Jeisson Rosario MLB Pipeline club ranking: No. 16 2021 Opening Day Age: 21 MLB ETA: 2022

Rosario’s speed made him potentially vulnerable from a Rule 5 perspective; he’s a left-handed-hitting center fielder who has been promoted aggressively since signing for $1.85 million as a teenager out of the in 2017. He was acquired from the Padres as part of the Mitch Moreland trade in August.

C Connor Wong MLB Pipeline club ranking: No. 19 2021 Opening Day Age: 24 MLB ETA: 2021

Acquired as the final piece in the trade that sent Mookie Betts and David Price to the Dodgers, Wong arrived in the Red Sox's organization and immediately became their best catching prospect. He is a right- handed hitter with power to all fields, above-average speed for a backstop and the positional versatility to project as a utility player if things don’t work out behind the plate. Wong will get a chance to catch first, though, given how thin Boston's system is in that department.

3B Hudson Potts MLB Pipeline club ranking: No. 20 2021 Opening Day Age: 22 MLB ETA: 2022

Potts came over with Rosario from the Padres in the Moreland deal. He is a former first-round Draft pick who draws comparisons to Bobby Dalbec for his right-handed power and plus arm, profiling best at third base. Contact and discipline have been issues, leading some to believe Potts will need to refine his approach to hit consistently at the highest level. But there is enough upside here to make protecting him an easy call.

RHP Connor Seabold MLB Pipeline club ranking: No. 22 2021 Opening Day Age: 25 MLB ETA: 2021

Acquired from the Phillies as part of the package for Brandon Workman and Heath Hembree this past summer, Seabold uses three above-average pitches and plus command to make up for his lack of overpowering stuff. The right-hander’s last game action came in the Arizona Fall League in 2019, which followed a strong showing at the Double-A level. He now profiles as internal rotation depth and could see Boston as early as next summer.

RHP Eduard Bazardo MLB Pipeline club ranking: Unranked 2021 Opening Day Age: 25 MLB ETA: 2021

An undersized but strong-armed righty, Bazardo reached Double-A in 2019, and performed well at instructional camp this fall. The Venezuela native is known for his high-spin curveball and is seen as a full- time reliever with a chance to contribute at the big league level in the near future.

* WEEI.com

Red Sox announce 2021 coaching staff, including new role for Jason Varitek

Ryan Hannable

Now that Alex Cora has officially been named manager for the 2021 season, it has also allowed the Red Sox to set their coaching staff, which was made official Friday afternoon.

Here are the changes.

-- Will Venable has been hired as bench coach. -- Jason Varitek has been named game planning coordinator. -- Ramón Vázquez has been named quality control coach/interpreter. -- Kevin Walker has been named bullpen coach.

Meanwhile, Dave Bush (pitching coach), Tim Hyers (hitting coach), Peter Fatse (assistant hitting coach), Tom Goodwin (first base coach), and Carlos Febles (third base coach) will resume their roles from a year ago.

“Now that our coaching staff is set, we’re excited to get to work and dedicate ourselves to getting the most out of our players,” Cora said in a statement. “Will is a bright, young mind that will add a lot to what is already a strong collection of coaches. I am also pleased that both Jason and Ramón will step forward and play larger roles for us. I am thrilled to have so many great baseball minds on our staff and I look forward to their contributions as we set out to achieve our goals.”

Jay Groome one of those added to 40-man roster by Red Sox; Ryan Weber designated for assignment

Rob Bradford

With Friday marking the deadline to protect those minor-leaguers from becoming eligible for the Rule 5 Draft, the Red Sox added top pitching prospect Jay Groome to the 40-man roster.

Groome was one of seven minor-leaguers promoted to the 40-man roster, with pitchers Eduard Bazardo, Connor Seabold and Bryan Mata, catcher Connor Wong, infielder Hudson Potts and outfielder Jeisson Rosario also getting promotions.

To make room for the additions the Red Sox designated pitchers Ryan Weber and Matt Hall for assignment, with pitcher Kyle Hart being outrighted to Triple-A.

Here are more details (courtesy the Red Sox' media relations staff) on those being promoted to a 40-man roster that is now maxed out:

Bazardo, 25, split 2019 between High-A Salem and Double-A Portland, his first season as a full-time reliever. The right-hander posted a 1.76 ERA (8 ER/41.0 IP) over 17 appearances for Salem and was named a mid-season All-Star before being promoted to Portland, his first experience at the Double-A level. In 21 appearances for the Sea Dogs, he went 4-1 with a 2.78 ERA (10 ER/32.1 IP), allowing zero earned runs in his final 11 outings of the season (14.2 IP). Signed by the Red Sox as an international free agent out of Venezuela in 2014, Bazardo is 23-19 with a 2.55 ERA (88 ER/310.0 IP) and 1.05 WHIP in 100 minor league appearances (31 starts).

Groome, 22, is ranked by as the Red Sox’ No. 6 prospect entering the 2021 season, as well as having the best curveball in the Boston organization. Selected by the Red Sox in the first round (12thoverall) in the 2016 June Draft out of Barnegat (NJ) High School, Groome has made 20 starts during his minor league career, going 3-9 with a 5.18 ERA (38 ER/66.0 IP). He missed the entire 2018 season and most of 2019 recovering from Tommy John surgery performed on his left elbow in May 2018.

Mata, 21, is ranked by Baseball America as the Red Sox’ No. 4 prospect, as well as the organization’s top pitching prospect. The publication ranks the right-hander as having the best fastball in the Red Sox organization. Mata went 7-7 with a 3.43 ERA (40 ER/105.0 IP) over 21 starts between High-A Salem and Double-A Portland in 2019, then made eight appearances for Peoria in the Arizona Fall League. A member of the World team in the 2018 SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game, Mata is 22-20 with a 3.40 ERA (119 ER/315.0 IP) in 69 minor league starts since being signed by Boston as an international free agent out of Venezuela in 2016.

Potts, 22, was acquired by the Red Sox from the Padres in August. A right-handed hitter, he was selected by San Diego in the first round (24th overall) of the 2016 June Draft out of Carroll Senior High School in Southlake, TX. In 423 minor league games, he has hit .256 (419-for-1,639) with 57 home runs, earning mid- and post-season All-Star honors in 2018 with High-A Lake Elsinore. Potts has made 331 starts at third base, as well as 25 at second base, 25 at , and five at third base. He spent most of 2019 with Double-A Amarillo, then played 13 games for Peoria in the Arizona Fall League.

Rosario, 21, was acquired by the Red Sox from the Padres in August. The left-handed hitter was signed by San Diego as an international free agent out of the Dominican Republic in 2016. In 289 minor league games, he has hit .264 (278-for-1,053) with a .376 on-base percentage and 37 stolen bases. He spent the entire 2019 season with Lake Elsinore, where he led High-A players in walks (87) and ranked ninth in on- base percentage (.372). Rosario has made 271 starts in center field, five in left field, and five in right field.

Seabold, 24, was acquired by the Red Sox from the Phillies in August. Selected by Philadelphia in the third round of the 2017 June Draft out of California State University, Fullerton, Seabold is 11-10 with a 3.52 ERA (77 ER/196.2 IP), 203 strikeouts, and only 46 walks in 40 career appearances (34 starts). In 2019 he posted a 2.24 ERA (14 ER/56.1 IP), a 1.01 WHIP, and a .224 opponent batting average in 12 games (11 starts) with four teams, including seven outings with Double-A Reading. Following the season, he pitched for Scottsdale in the Arizona Fall League and recorded a 1.06 ERA (2 ER/17.0 IP) with 22 strikeouts. The right-hander is ranked by Baseball America as having the best changeup in the Red Sox organization entering 2021.

Wong, 24, was ranked by Baseball America as the Red Sox’ No. 17 prospect in the publication’s 2020 mid- season rankings. Acquired from the Dodgers in February 2020, the right-handed hitter made his Double-A debut in 2019, batting .349 (52-for-149) with a .997 OPS in 40 games with Tulsa. Named a California League mid-season All-Star in both 2018 and 2019, Wong was selected by the Dodgers in the third round of the 2017 June Draft. In 241 career minor league games, he has batted .275 (249-for-904) with 48 home runs and an .852 OPS. He has made 176 starts at catcher, 22 at second base, and eight at third base, throwing out 66 of 210 (31.4%) runners attempting to steal.

The Red Sox prospect who is shooting up the charts

Rob Bradford

A prospect that hasn’t made it above Double A by the age of 25 years old usually doesn’t elicit too much buzz.

But Eduard Bazardo has become the exception to the rule.

The right-handed pitcher was perhaps the most interesting storyline when the Red Sox’ newest 40-man roster additions were released. Sure, Jay Groome was noteworthy. And designating the guy (Ryan Weber) who was your No. 3 starter to begin 2020 for assignment was something.

But Bazardo’s name has jumped out of late.

The lesson learned in some ways is what steps forward could have been made during the pandemic. This much his clear: The Venezuelan native made the most of his time off.

According to those in the organization, the guy who was originally listed as 6-feet, 155 pounds used his time at the Red Sox’ Academy in the Dominican Republic to beef up. The result was a fastball that has crept up into the mid-90’s that is now complementing an elite curveball and slider which is accompanied with a well-above-average spin rate.

"It was basically like Groundhog Day with a group of roughly 15 kids (at the Academy)," said Red Sox assistant general manager Eddie Romero. "He really took it upon himself and dedicated himself to strengthening and conditioning. He put on about 10 pounds of muscle."

Romero added, "When we signed him he was probably 140 pounds, if that. There had been a couple of signing periods he had been passed over. But we saw a breaking ball that had some depth to it and we saw a really fast arm that was obviously going to be a late-bloomer physically. He had a long way to go from a physical standpoint, but he competed. We loved that from Day 1. This is a tip of the cap to the player development and strength and conditioning staff. It's also been neat to see our analytics group make some recommendations, how they have been able to optimize Bazardo from a physical standpoint and a stuff standpoint."

All of it was put on display at the team’s Instructional League, which caught the eye of those in Fort Myers.

The Red Sox prioritizing keeping Bazardo away from the Rule 5 Draft was certainly no lock heading into the 2020 season, with the pitcher having gone through the process a year ago.

Bazardo did everything one would ask throughout a professional career that began with am $8,000 signing bonus as an 18-year-old. In nine starts with Single-A Lowell he posted a 2.36 ERA, leading to a 3.21 ERA over five starts at Greenville that same 2018 season. In 2019 he was moved to the bullpen where he once again stood out, managing a 1.76 ERA in 17 appearances with Salem before finishing with 21 relief outings in Double-A Portland (2.78 ERA).

"He had been a guy managers would give the ball to at the end of games. Somebody they have always trusted," Romero said.

What is of some note is what more than a few of Bazardo’s 2019 relief stints looked like. In his 38 games he totaled 71 1/3 innings. He also proved to be effective against both sides of the plate, limiting lefties and righties to relatively the same batting average against. (Bazardo was actually slightly better against left- handed hitters, finishing the season with a 2.04 ERA compared to a 3.68 clip vs. right-handers.)

"When the move (from starter to reliever) was made I think there might have been some durability concerns. He has always been a healthy guy, but he didn't have that massive build," Romero said. "Given his repertoire, being a two-pitch guy the last year, year-and-a-half there has been some development. Right now he's a reliever but I can see us discussing if there needs to be a change in that role. He has just taken so much to the reliever role, especially late in games."

This isn’t the be-all, end-all starting rotation solution for the Red Sox. But Bazardo does offer some pitching intrigue for a team desperate for such a thing.

* NBC Sports Boston

Red Sox's finalized coaching staff includes Varitek, Venable

Justin Leger

The Boston Red Sox made their 2021 coaching staff official on Friday.

It was reported earlier this week Will Venable would be named Alex Cora's bench coach, and that hiring has been finalized. Venable most recently served as third base coach.

In addition, Jason Varitek is now a full-time coach as the former Red Sox catcher was named the team’s game planning coordinator.

Ramon Vazquez was named Boston's quality control coach and interpreter. Kevin Walker was hired as the bullpen coach.

Dave Bush remains the pitching coach and Tim Hyers maintains his role as hitting coach. Tom Goodwin and Carlos Febles will continue to coach first and third base, respectively. Peter Fatse is the assistant hitting coach.

* BostonSportsJournal.com

MLB Notebook: Optimism abounds at recent Red Sox Instructional League; don’t hold your breath for commissioner Theo

Sean McAdam

For a team coming off its worst season in more than a half-century, it is not, in actuality, all doom and gloom for the Red Sox.

Yes, there are a myriad of areas on the major league roster that require upgrades, if not outright overhauls. There’s the sad track record over the last 15 or so years when it comes to developing starting pitching. And yes, it’s been a long time since the franchise has been this out of favor with the New England sports fan.

But there is some hope, and that hope was on display at the recently-concluded Instructional League program in Fort Myers. The Instructional League program is held every year in the fall, of course, but it seemed more needed and necessary than ever following the pandemic-ravaged 2020 season.

With no minor league season taking place, dozens and dozens of Red Sox minor leaguers had no formal outlet with which to advance their development. The ones closest to reaching the major leagues — and a handful of the most elite prospects at the lowest levels — participated in the team’s alternate training site at McCoy Stadium in Pawtucket. But even there, it was a controlled environment: intra-squad games had to replace actual minor league games and evaluation was admittedly limited.

Faced with that, the team held its Instructional League for the rest of its minor leaguers in Fort Myers, with strict protocols in place. It was a chance to see a few alternate site players in a different environment, and, more to the point, a lot of players who weren’t in Pawtucket.

And according to one Red Sox official, the reviews were glowing.

“The system was way better than I thought it was going to be,” the official gushed. “That was really encouraging. I adamantly disagree with the public ranking of our system, based on what I saw. No way we’re (ranked) in the 20s (out of 30 systems); no way.

“There’s some really good young Latin players. There’s a mix of different areas that we have in there now, which is good. It was impressive.”

Some thumbnail reports on those who stood out from the evaluator’s perspective:

1b , first-round pick 2018. “He’s a dude. I agree with those who say he could be the next . Same swing, same body. It was eerie, actually.”

OF Gilberto Jimenez, international free agent 2017 from the Dominican Republic, signed for $10,000. “He looks like an absolute beast. I don’t think it’s necessarily a power swing, but he’s got an uncanny feel for putting the ball in play and putting pressure on the opposing defense.”

RHP Chih-Jung Liu, signed for $750,000 last winter out of Taiwan, Liu’s velocity wasn’t eye-popping in the Instructional League. “He didn’t show the big, upper-90s fastball, but he had six pitches that were pretty impressive. He’s a little guy (6-0 feet), but he’s very athletic.”

3B Blaze Jordan, drafted in the third round last June. Jordan’s raw plus-plus power is eye-popping. “Very impressive.”

SS Brainer Bonaci, signed as international free agent for $290,000 in 2018 from Venezuela. “Switch- hitting, young Latin shortstop.”

3B: Ceddanne Rafaela, signed as international free agent out of Curacao in 2017 for $10,000: “I think he could be our next Mauricio Dubon-type (an athletic, versatile infielder).”

RHP Bradley Blalock, 32nd round pick, 2019: “I think he’s a sleeper. I like him a lot. Definitely has a starter’s look. He’s got a sneaky ball and a good feel to change speeds.”

LHP Brendan Cellucci, 12th round pick, 2019 draft, signed for $345,000. “A power lefty reliever with a live arm.”

LHP Jeremy Wu-Yelland, fourth-round pick out of the University of Hawaii in 2020, signed for $200,000. “He got up to 97 mph, with really good stuff.”

RHP Brayan Bello, international free agent signed for $28,000 in 2017. “He’s getting a lot of attention. He’s up to 97 mph with the ability to change speeds.” ______

I have no way of knowing what Theo Epstein’s next career move will be. I think it’s a safe bet that Epstein himself doesn’t know what his next career move will be, even if he undoubtedly has already run through some potential options in his head. That would only be natural.

My best guess — and it’s only that — would be for Epstein to involve himself with either an expansion group or with an ownership group looking to purchase a team. That would present Epstein with an opportunity for two things that are said to appeal to him: an ownership stake, and complete control in running an organization. And by “running an organization,” that means what it says: being team president and CEO. Merely running the day-to-day baseball operations of a club has already been done — twice. There’s no challenge left there.

When Epstein held a press conference earlier this week to announce his departure from the Cubs, he made headlines when he expressed concern for how the game has been trending.

“It’s the greatest game in the world,” Epstein said Tuesday. “But there are some threats to it because of the way the game is evolving, and I take some responsibility for that because the executives like me who have spent a lot of time using analytics to try to optimize individual and team performance have unwittingly had a negative impact on the aesthetic value of the game, and the entertainment value of the game.

“Clearly, the strikeout rate’s a little bit out of control, and we need to find a way to get more action in the game, get the ball in play more often, allow players to show their athleticism some more, and give fans more of what they want.”

Epstein’s words here carry significant weight. This isn’t Goose Gossage or some other professional crank railing about the game being ruined by “nerds and their computers.” No, this comes from someone inside the revolution that began some two decades ago and has, in his estimation, gone too far.

Good for Epstein for speaking this and bonus points for acknowledging his culpability. There are few figures in the game more self-aware.

But naturally, this led to a gazillion columns being written, all of which espoused the same thought: Theo Epstein for commissioner!

Sorry, that’s not happening. Certainly not on Epstein’s timetable. If he takes a year off to refresh and spend time with his family before diving back in, that timing doesn’t line up well. has a contract which runs through 2024, and if you think owners are going to move on from Manfred, pay him the remainder of his substantial contract and hand the keys over to Epstein, well, you couldn’t be more wrong.

First, while Epstein cares deeply about the game and its future, why would he undertake the kind of job that would involve lots of meetings with corporate interests, lobbyists and others? Does that sound like Epstein’s idea of a good time?

Also, recall that Epstein chafed being under the thumb of former Red Sox president Larry Lucchino when he was the Red Sox’ GM, going so far as to walk away until he received assurances from John Henry that he could run Baseball Operations without undue interference. And now, the same guy who quit in protest when he felt big-footed by one executive is going to willingly accept a position in which he has 30 owners dictating their every whim? I think not.

Finally, there’s the matter of Epstein’s politics, which are well-known. In future collective bargaining talks, does it seem likely that Epstein would do the bidding of a bunch of billionaires, while attempting to stomp on the rank-and-file labor which is the game’s true asset? No.

While we tend to romanticize the position of baseball commissioner — hoping for more Bart Giamatti and less Bud Selig — the fact is that the job is, first and foremost, about making lots of money for the owners. Period. Full stop.

It isn’t, like it or not, about making the product on the field more aesthetically pleasing. It’s about the bottom line, and using that as a measuring stick, Manfred has done his job well. Even in the midst of a pandemic, he’s negotiated new broadcast deals which are of far greater value than the expiring ones. And keeping revenue flowing to the owners remains both the primary responsibility of the commissioner and the surest way to ensure self[preservation.

That being said, the fact that Epstein publicly expressed concern about the game shouldn’t be taken lightly.

If Manfred is smart, he’ll approach Epstein about heading up a committee to study these issues — with the promise that recommendations will be given every measure of consideration for adoption. Epstein could have input in selecting the rest of the committee and be given free rein to proceed.

Putting Epstein in charge and valuing his input would result in an unflinching look at the game and how it could improve. In turn, that would result in increased popularity, help expand the game’s appeal to younger fans, and, indirectly, lead to increasing revenue.

A better product. A more profitable business. And recognition that the game needs attention — now.

Sounds like a win-win for all involved. ______

As the Indians continue to line up potential suitors for a trade involving , some have suggested that the Red Sox would represent a logical landing spot. Bradford Doolittle of ESPN.com had Boston listed as one of the top five destinations for Lindor.

Doolittle argued that the Sox could extend Lindor by giving him the kind of deal that Mookie Betts turned down, shift Xander Bogaerts to third and move Rafael Devers across the .

A few issues here:

After failing to get Betts — a superior player, by the way, to Lindor — to a long-term deal and unloading salary to get under the CBT this past February, do the Red Sox really want to turn around and get themselves tied into a six- or eight-year mega deal? Occasionally, there are big players worth this kind of investment (again, Betts would have been one)? And what message would it send that while the Red Sox wouldn’t/couldn’t extend a player whom they had drafted and developed and helped them win a World Series, they would do so for a player brand new to the organization?

The Red Sox have a very good shortstop in Bogaerts. No, he’s not as accomplished a defender at the position as Lindor — few are. But he’s at least adequate at the position and the different between the two offensively — .805 OPS, 113 OPS+ for Bogaerts; .833 OPS, 117 OPS+ for Lindor — is relatively small. Plus, this would involve the Red Sox having to give up, at minimum, two good prospects simply to obtain Lindor. Think: Jeter Downs and Jarren Duran. The former could perhaps take over at short while Duran addresses the Indians’ need for an outfielder. Subtracting two of the team’s Top 10 prospects at a time when the organization is trying to rebuild the minor league inventory doesn’t make sense.

It would send the wrong message to Bogaerts, who signed a team-friendly deal in the first weeks of the 2019 season, at below-market value. Bogaerts initiated the negotiations, saying he wanted to remain with the Red Sox for the remainder of his career. And now, less than two years later, the Red Sox should make a deal which involves moving him off his natural position to accommodate someone else? (Admittedly, this wouldn’t be as misguided as moving him to third to make room for . But it would still be a mistake).

The Red Sox have a number of needs far more pressing than upgrading at shortstop. If they’re going to acquire a player in his prime, reward him with a nine-figure contract extension and sacrifice a number of prospects to do it, it should be for a starting pitcher — not a position they already have more-than-capably covered for the foreseeable future.

Lindor would presumably be seeking a deal with an AAV (average annual value) of $30 million more. Currently, the Red Sox are paying Bogaerts an average of $20 million. And while Lindor is the superior overall player, is he enough of an upgrade to motivate the Sox to pay him half-again what Bogaerts is currently making? Hardly.

Even if he were willing to move to third base, could Bogaerts play the position? Or would he see this as a slap in the face and exercise the opt-out clause in his contract after the 2022 season? Meanwhile, moving Bogaerts to third and Devers to first creates two additional problems. First, it leaves no place top power prospect Bobby Dalbec, at least not while J.D. Martinez is with the club. And secondly, giving up Downs leaves the Red Sox without future options at second base. Other than that, trading for Lindor seems like a swell idea.

Red Sox notebook: Varitek added to coaching staff; 40-man roster moves announced

Sean McAdam

After serving the team in a variety of roles in recent seasons, Jason Varitek will be an official member of the Red Sox coaching staff in 2021.

In finalizing their staff for next season, the Red Sox announced Friday that Varitek was appointed as game- planning coordinator. According to an industry source, Varitek was also considered for the role of bullpen coach, but that job went to Kevin Walker, who last year was the team’s assistant pitching coach.

Walker replaces Craig Bjornson, who was one of two coaches from the 2020 staff not invited back. The other was bench coach Jerry Narron. The Sox earlier in the week hired former Chicago Cubs coach Will Venable to serve as Boston’s bench coach. Venable’s hiring was confirmed by the team’s press release.

The one other slight change to the staff was shifting Ramon Vazquez from major league coach to quality control coach/interpreter. Vazquez had joined the staff in 2018 and spent the last three seasons helping out with infielders and serving as a liaison between the team’s analytics department and advance scouting and the players.

Varitek had been a special assistant and catching coach for the Sox since 2012, a year after his final season as a player for the Sox. Until recently, he had been reluctant to take on the full-time duties of a coach, preferring to spend at least part of the season at home with his young children.

The rest of the coaching staff — pitching coach Dave Bush, hitting coach Tim Hyers, assistant hitting coach Pete Fatse, first base coach Tom Goodwin and third base coach Carlos Febles — had already been re-hired for 2021. ______

As anticipated, the Red Sox added seven players to their 40-man roster: catcher Connor Wong, infielder Hudson Potts, outfielder Jeisson Rosario and pitchers Connor Seabold, Jay Groome, Bryan Mata and Eduard Bazardo.

Those seven had to be added by Friday’s deadline or would have been eligible for the Dec. 10 Rule 5 draft.

To make room on the roster, the Red Sox designated pitchers Matt Hall and Ryan Weber for assignment while outrighting Kyle Hart to Pawtucket.

Designating Weber is something of a surprise. Weber was 1-3 with a 4.40 ERA in 178 appearances. Weber was shelled in a few starts early in the season, but pitched effectively in relief, posting a 2.25 ERA in 12 bullpen outings.

It may be that the Sox believe, as teams are busy creating room on their own rosters, Weber will go unclaimed and can remain under team control.

* The Athletic

Red Sox Roster Projection 1.0: A blueprint for how Alex Cora’s team will look

Chad Jennings

The Red Sox have a manager. Now they need some players. This seems as good a time as any for Red Sox Roster Projection 1.0, our first shot in the dark at a 26-man roster for Opening Day next season.

And, fair warning, we’re being fairly conservative out of the gate. Better to start with a basic sense of where things stand than to begin with a total fantasy in which — oh, I don’t know — the Red Sox trade their best player the day before spring training.

In a general sense, we’re predicting a roster that has more than five starting pitchers — some of them being used in the bullpen — plus a handful of versatile utility types who can mix and match and provide depth. Some of these players are currently free agents, so it’s highly speculative; but even if the names are wrong, that’s the basic blueprint we’re trying to follow in this first projection.

Lineup 1. Alex Verdugo, RF — If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Remember in 2019 when the Red Sox tried to move Mookie Betts to the No. 2 hole before switching him back to the leadoff spot before the end of May? Alex Cora may very well have different ideas, but right now the new manager doesn’t have an obviously better leadoff hitter than Verdugo.

2. Xander Bogaerts, SS — Analytics suggest this is the most important spot in the lineup, and Bogaerts is probably the most reliable Red Sox hitter. Plus, hitting him second nicely staggers the lefties and righties.

3. Rafael Devers, 3B — There is no indication the Red Sox are considering a position change for Devers, and they actually opened last season with him in the No. 3 hole, so they must see some upside to putting him in that spot.

4. J.D. Martinez, DH — Coming off an unthinkably bad season, but he’s still J.D. Martinez. So it seems natural to pencil him into the cleanup spot. If not, maybe second or third? No matter where he hits, the Red Sox need him to bounce back.

5. Andrew Benintendi, LF — If not Verdugo, Benintendi is the most natural alternative for the leadoff slot, but it didn’t work when the Red Sox hit him in that spot in 2019, and the results were even worse when they tried it this year. Let’s acknowledge Benintendi could be a useful trade chip to bring back a similarly young, experienced and flawed pitcher, but his trade value is also really hard to estimate without being in on every Red Sox call with rival general managers. For now, we’ll keep him in the projected lineup.

6. Christian Vazquez, C — His final slash line this year actually was similar to his breakout 2019 season. He and Cora are close, and there’s every reason to believe Vazquez remains an everyday catcher (a rarity in baseball these days).

7. Jackie Bradley Jr., CF — Chaim Bloom does not often tip his hand, but he’s made clear that he wants to add a center fielder rather than move Verdugo or Benintendi to center. That doesn’t leave many free-agent options. is the best on the market, but a reunion with Bradley on a two- or three-year deal might best fit the short-term and long-term Red Sox needs.

8. Bobby Dalbec, 1B — There’s a best-case scenario in which Dalbec is batting fifth and clubbing 40 home runs, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves. He had a productive month that showed his strengths (.600 slugging) and weaknesses (struck out 42 percent of the time). Don’t be surprised if a veteran comes to spring training trying to take the job from him.

9. , 2B — Good news for the Red Sox: The free-agent market has a lot of second-base options, and 29-year-old Schoop could be a bargain after a nice year in Detroit. If not him, Jonathan Villar, Enrique Hernández, Cesar Hernandez and are similarly viable alternatives (beyond the top two of DJ LeMahieu and ). One interesting alternative is Korean shortstop Ha-Seong Kim, who ranked 17th on Keith Law’s top 40 free agents list. Bloom keeps saying the goal is to build sustainability. Well, Kim’s still just 25 years old and does a little of everything at the plate. A worthwhile investment?

Bench , 2B/LF — A 27-year-old switch-hitting free agent with at least 289 innings of big-league experience at four positions, mostly second base. Depth is a priority, and Profar could provide it all over the field as a right-handed alternative in the outfield and a left-handed alternative at first and second. He could be a semi-everyday player even without an everyday role. See also: Enrique Hernández.

Kevin Plawecki, C — In this market, paying Plawecki something close to $2 million through arbitration might be too much, but the Red Sox have to like what they saw out of him last season. And his familiarity with the pitching staff is an obvious plus. Bloom’s already signed him once. One way or another, let’s speculate that he’ll be back.

Christian Arroyo, 2B/3B/SS — Two good weeks last season were enough to keep Arroyo on the roster but not necessarily guarantee him a job. Rather than hand him the second-base gig, the Red Sox could slide Arroyo into the ensemble, using him at second, third and shortstop as needed.

Yairo Muñoz, SS/RF — Noticing a trend here on the bench? Versatility. Flexibility. Depth. Matchups. Good athletes, still in their 20s, who can do a lot of things. Muñoz signed a minor-league deal last spring, and though he’s been primarily an infielder, he helped the Red Sox in the outfield corners. Another guy who gives them options.

Rotation Eduardo Rodriguez, LHP — After he lost a season to COVID-19 and a heart condition, the offseason indications are positive for Rodriguez staying on track to be ready for spring training. If he is, it makes all the sense in the world to give him the Opening Day start after he lost that opportunity this year.

Charlie Morton, RHP — He’s from Connecticut, seems to prefer an East Coast team that trains in Florida, and MLB.com reported he’s seeking a one-year deal, possibly with an option for a second year. That’s a terrific combination for the Red Sox, who could immediately bolster their rotation, perhaps add an option for 2022, or maybe gain a midseason trade chip. Will they pay, though, for a player who’s clearly not a long-term asset?

Nathan Eovaldi, RHP — When he pitched last season, Eovaldi was terrific, but it was yet another year during which he spent time on the . Eovaldi has long dazzled with his velocity, but he’s had too many health issues to sustain much success.

Martín Pérez, LHP — There’s considerable desire to get creative here and come up with some other name for this spot — Jake Odorizzi? Taijuan Walker? — but Pérez makes too much sense. And if the Red Sox can get another team option on his contract, that’s even better. Pérez grew up a Red Sox fan and clearly liked pitching in Boston. Maybe that makes it a little easier to bring him back at a discount after the Red Sox declined his option for next season.

Tanner Houck, RHP — Let’s not hand this job to Houck just yet. Yes, he was awesome in three starts this year, but if the Red Sox want to add considerable pitching depth, that might leave Houck with something to prove in spring training (it was only three starts, after all). But Houck looked too good to keep him out of the projection right now. The job clearly is his at the moment.

Bullpen Trevor Rosenthal, RHP — Really, Rosenthal’s name is a placeholder for any one of the next-tier free-agent relievers after Liam Hendricks. Take your pick: Rosenthal, , , Trevor May, , Alex Colomé. The Red Sox could really improve their bullpen by getting one of them and sticking him in the ninth inning. And the abundance of options within this market should keep the price down.

Matt Barnes, RHP — By the time the non-tender deadline rolls around in early December, the Red Sox should have a better sense of the market and whether Barnes’ final year of arbitration, projected at $4 million to $5 million, will be beyond his market value. For now, we’ll assume Barnes will be back, and we’ll pencil him into the eighth inning.

Darwinzon Hernandez, LHP — Perhaps the most important bullpen piece on the Red Sox roster. The team is not high on the idea of making Hernandez a starter again — at least not any time soon — because they see a lot of value in his electric left arm coming out of the bullpen for two-plus innings at a time. Of all the bullpen options listed here, he’s the only one who seems a lock.

Josh Taylor, LHP — Alex Cora remembers the way Taylor looked in his breakout 2019 season, and when he was asked last week what the Red Sox might do to improve, he lumped Taylor and Hernandez together. “They’re huge for what we’re going to try to do,” Cora said. Certainly sounded like he was planning to have Taylor in his bullpen.

Ryan Brasier, RHP — Here’s another comment from Cora. Asked about the state of the Red Sox pitching, Cora cited a few bright spots, and one of them was, “Brasier throwing the ball the way he did in ’18.” Brasier did look better this year than he did in 2019, but is that really enough to lock him into a bullpen job? Probably not, but given Cora’s affinity for him, it’s enough to lock him into this first roster projection.

Nick Pivetta, RHP — He’s out of options, so he’ll be on the roster, and he’ll probably compete for a rotation job in spring training. But given all of the durability concerns — health issues, and the fact no one threw a lot of innings this year — teams are almost certainly going to carry more than five pitchers who are capable of starting. There are going to be multi-inning guys in the bullpen, and probably spot starts every now and then, so Pivetta could wear many hats next season.

Alex Wood, LHP — Again, just pick a name. Wood fits the part, but it could be almost any starting pitcher, preferably in his late 20s or early 30s, who could compete for a rotation job in spring training but end up in the bullpen playing a role similar to what was laid out for Pivetta. Wood started and relieved for the Dodgers last season. Julio Teheran is a buy-low candidate. Maybe Anthony DeSclafani? ? Tyler Chatwood? The Red Sox need flexibility and versatility, which surely means a starting pitcher or two ending up in the pen.

Colten Brewer, RHP — Picking the last guy in a bullpen almost four months ahead of time is an exercise doomed to failure, but we’ll go with Brewer because he’s another guy who could give multiple innings and had some success under Cora. That said, the Red Sox already have signed Kevin McCarthy to a minor- league deal, and they still have Phillips Valdez, Austin Brice and Marcus Walden to consider, plus the nameless others they will inevitably add as bullpen depth between now and the end of March.

Jason Varitek on his new role with the Red Sox: ‘It’s constant communication’

Jen McCaffrey

Since taking a job as a Red Sox special assistant to the general manager in 2012, Jason Varitek has slowly worked his way into roles with more responsibility for the team.

But Friday marked a first for the former catcher.

Varitek was officially named to the Red Sox coaching staff as game-planning coordinator, his first full-time coaching role with the club.

Over the past few seasons, the 48-year-old had transitioned from a front-office advisory role — in which he offered insight on draft picks and player acquisitions — to an on-field job as a catching coordinator. But he was never considered a full-time member of the team’s staff.

In the new role, Varitek will still be working closely with the pitchers and catchers formulating game plans and working on run prevention, but he will also sit in on meetings and help plan other aspects of the offense and defense.

“It’s constant communication between pitchers and catchers, and my part with the catchers throughout games and in prep work, so we’re all continuing to be on the same page, analytics (department) on down to the player,” Varitek said.

Varitek’s name has frequently surfaced as a potential managerial candidate over the past few years. The former Red Sox captain, who spent his entire 15-year major-league career in Boston, is well respected in the Red Sox clubhouse as an immense resource on the game and a voice of authority among the players.

Varitek has previously acknowledged that his growing presence around the team allowed him to realize just how pervasive the responsibilities of a manager are nowadays. It’s not just writing a lineup card and taking out a pitcher; managers are involved in a multitude of meetings and planning sessions, are expected to give input on team acquisitions, must weigh media and community relations responsibilities, and of course must connect with their players. Those are things he might have taken for granted as a player, but now, working alongside his former teammate-turned-manager Alex Cora, he sees the more complete picture.

A managerial role is something Varitek continues to work toward, perhaps even more so now that his four daughters are a bit older, though his youngest is still only 8. But now that he’s taken on a greater role on Cora’s coaching staff, he’s getting to see more aspects of the game and getting comfortable in areas with which he was previously unfamiliar.

“That definitely would be a hope and always have been working toward,” he said of a manager’s job. “But when you’re not on a full-time basis, you don’t want to sit there and make huge statements or speak of players and stuff, so that would be a great thing to work toward. I’m going to be working hard for Alex and that staff and those players and trying to win right now and trying to do the best I can to do that. There’s no timetable, but this is another big step in being able to be around every day.”

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Boston Red Sox tab Will Venable as bench coach in Alex Cora's return

The Boston Red Sox have hired Will Venable to be a bench coach on manager Alex Cora's staff.

Venable spent the past three seasons with the Chicago Cubs as a first- and third-base coach after a 12-year career as a major league outfielder, mostly with the . Venable, whose father, Max, also spent a dozen years in the majors, played both basketball and baseball at Princeton.

The Red Sox also said Jason Varitek has been named game-planning coordinator, Ramon Vazquez will be the quality control coach and interpreter, and Kevin Walker has been named bullpen coach.

"Will is a bright, young mind that will add a lot to what is already a strong collection of coaches," Cora said in a statement. "I am also pleased that both Jason and Ramon will step forward and play larger roles for us. I am thrilled to have so many great baseball minds on our staff and I look forward to their contributions as we set out to achieve our goals."

Pitching coach Dave Bush, hitting coach Tim Hyers, assistant hitting coach Peter Fatse, first-base coach Tom Goodwin and third-base coach Carlos Febles will be back in their previous roles.

Cora is returning to the dugout after serving a one-season suspension for his role in the Astros' sign-stealing scheme. Ron Roenicke managed the last-place Red Sox during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.